Queens Art School Receives $2M NEH Grant, Founder Advises Artists to Stay 'Unpolitical'

The Grand Central Atelier, which promotes 'art untouched by modernism,' was one of the largest recipients of National Endowment for the Humanities funding.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 5:13pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Queens, New York-based Grand Central Atelier art school was awarded a $2 million grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), one of the largest single grants given out by the agency. The school's founder, realist painter Jacob Collins, has been a vocal critic of modernism and avant-garde art, and he now advises artists to remain 'as unpolitical as possible' despite the school's politically-charged mission and funding.

Why it matters

The Grand Central Atelier's large NEH grant and its founder's controversial views on art and politics highlight the ongoing debate over the role of government funding and support for the arts, particularly for institutions that promote traditional or conservative artistic approaches over more experimental or progressive ones.

The details

The Grand Central Atelier, which was founded by realist painter Jacob Collins, promotes 'art untouched by modernism' and teaches methods 'rooted in traditions pre-dating the 19th century and the advent of photography.' Collins has been an outspoken critic of modernism and avant-garde art, and he was a speaker at the National Conservatism Conference in 2021 where he argued that American modernism was 'an error.' The school's $2 million NEH grant, one of the largest awarded by the agency, will support public lectures, student studio sessions, a symposium, a digital publication, and two new postdoctoral fellowships.

  • The National Endowment for the Humanities announced the grant in January 2026.
  • Collins spoke at the National Conservatism Conference in September 2021.

The players

Jacob Collins

The founder of the Grand Central Atelier and a realist painter who has been an outspoken critic of modernism and avant-garde art.

Grand Central Atelier

A New York art school that promotes 'art untouched by modernism' and teaches methods 'rooted in traditions pre-dating the 19th century and the advent of photography.'

National Endowment for the Humanities

A federal agency that provides grants for humanities projects, including the $2 million award to the Grand Central Atelier.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“To say things aren't politics—that's just not true. But the artist is very wise to be as unpolitical as possible.”

— Jacob Collins, Founder, Grand Central Atelier (New York Times)

“American modernism was 'an error' and that European abstraction complicated the 'natural American empricism' that had existed in art prior.”

— Jacob Collins (National Conservatism Conference)

What’s next

The NEH said the grant funding will be used to support a public lecture series, studio lectures for students, a symposium, a digital publication, and the creation of two new postdoctoral fellowships at the Grand Central Atelier.

The takeaway

The Grand Central Atelier's large NEH grant and its founder's controversial views on art and politics highlight the ongoing debate over the role of government funding and support for the arts, particularly for institutions that promote traditional or conservative artistic approaches over more experimental or progressive ones.